In this episode of The Chair, I sat down with Marc Jacobs, a governance expert with a deep background in intercultural management and organisational transformation. Together, we explore how organisational culture acts as an invisible force. Marc shares insights into the iceberg model of governance, the importance of cultural intelligence in global organisations, and why boards often acknowledge culture… but rarely act on it. A rich conversation about what truly drives organisational behaviour, and how to surface what lies beneath. I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory. I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence. TIMELINE 00:00 - Introduction 00:58 Adapting to Customer Work Styles 03:16 Holistic Governance and Culture Integration 07:02 Organizational Culture Measurement Tools 11:22 Cultural Differences in Decision-Making 16:02 Legal Trust: Civil vs Common Law 19:16 "Partnering Must-Haves Discussion" 21:23 Transitioning from Startup to Scale-Up 24:11 Embrace Diverse Mindsets Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode of The Chair, I sat down with Manon Loison to explore a question I care deeply about: why should non-profits be governed with the same strategic discipline as any business? Manon is the founder of The Luxembourg Foresight Institute and a board advisor across sectors. Together, we talked about how non-profits can build long-term resilience—not just through fundraising, but through diversified revenue models, strong governance, and data-driven impact. We discussed : – The parallels between business boards and non-profit boards – Why younger generations are essential to modern governance – How transparency builds trust with donors – The importance of legal accountability and impact measurement – What for-profit boards can learn from the social sector If you believe that purpose and performance should go hand in hand, this conversation is for you. I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory. I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence. TIMELINE 00:00 - Intro 01:07 - Non-Profit Strategy and Finance Alignment 05:57 - ISBL Law Update: Compliance Deadline Approaching 07:48 - "Governance Ensures Transparency & Structure" 11:36 - "Engagement and Impact Communication" 15:20 - Board's Role in Revenue Diversification 19:39 - Impact of Transparent Giving 23:05 - Ethics in Organizational Management 25:21 - Engaging Youth in Local Boards 28:09 - Board Member Commitment: Corporate vs. Nonprofit 31:10 - Connect Through Lunch or LinkedIn Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this debut episode of The Chair, I sit down with Genna Elvin to discuss how startups can scale globally while building high-performing boards. Together, we explore : Crafting effective board strategies for high-growth companies The value of independent directors and how they shape better decisions Balancing board influence with founder freedom Overcoming remote governance challenges and connecting with the right mentors This episode is packed with actionable insights for founders, executives, and anyone passionate about startup governance and strategic growth. I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory. I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence. Reach out to me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/najia-belbal-ned/ TIMELINE 00:00 - Introduction 00:59 - From Law Aspiration to Global Impact 05:03 - Startup Expansion from Luxembourg 07:41 - Emergent Board Development Strategy 11:34 - Strategic Global Market Expansion Approach 14:59 - Balancing Board Influence and Freedom 19:31 - Navigating Remote Challenges and Change 21:52 - Connecting Founders with Experienced Mentors 25:50 - Value of Independent Directors 27:31 - Value of Independent Board Directors 31:10 - Choose Wisely: Elevate Your Board Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.